The hit-and-run was then followed by a chase with law enforcement officials that ended in a crash. In all, five people were injured by the time the incident came to an end.

Florida High Patrol spokesman Lt. Bill Leeper said the episode started about 7:20 a.m. when Andrea Zampatti of Canton, Ga., hit a mail box while driving her Range Rover sport utility vehicle at 350 Ponte Vedra Blvd. She continued onto Florida A1A where she struck a bicyclist in the 1200 block.

Zampatti then continued to drive south to Mickler Road, Leeper said.

St. Johns County Sheriff's Office spokesman Kevin Kelshaw said the woman was "driving erratically" before encountering deputies on Palm Valley Road.

"One of our deputies attempted to make a traffic stop and she pulled over," Kelshaw said. "And then she put it in reverse and plowed into the front of the patrol car."

A chase ensued and the Range Rover struck several other vehicles and objects along the roadway, forced a scooter rider into a ditch and then hit a lawn maintenance truck head-on near Landrum Lane where the pursuit ended, Kelshaw said.

A Chevrolet passenger car also was involved in the accident at the end of the chase.

Deputies at one point tried to stop the SUV with "stop sticks" that would have flattened the tires. But Leeper said Zampatti drove around the sticks and hit a second sheriff's vehicle just before the head-on crash with the truck.

Leeper said the bicyclist and the driver of the truck, both men, were air lifted to Shands Hospital in Jacksonville where they're being treated for injuries that are not life-threatening. The driver of the Chevrolet, a woman, and a passenger in the truck, a man, were transported to Baptist Medical Center for treatment of injuries that are also not life-threatening.

Zampatti was treated for her injuries at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. When she was released from the hospital later Friday Kelshaw said she was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and aggravated battery for the collision with the sheriff's patrol car and there could be additional charges. She was taken to the St. Johns County jail. Her first court appearance is scheduled for Saturday morning.

Leeper said troopers will seek a toxicology report on Zampatti to determine if she will be charged with DUI as well. He said other charges are forthcoming.

The scene on Palm Valley Road was chaotic for Tom Harding, a Ponte Vedra resident who drove upon the crash site about 15 minutes after it happened.

"It's usually pretty quiet. But there was quite an impressive array of rescue vehicles and law enforcement," Harding said. "They were trying to direct people around. ... It seemed like it was quite a serious accident. They occupied both lanes and shut everything down."

John Dillingham was working out at the Ponte Vedra YMCA when he heard people talking about the crash. He said he wasn't surprised because he alerted authorities to a woman driving a Range Rover the wrong way on Butler Boulevard in Jacksonville about 6:45 a.m. near Marsh Landing.

"She was going eastbound with me on JTB and she went through the median and started going eastbound in the westbound lanes. ... She had her hair pulled back in a bun and she looked like she was very professional like everybody else," Dillingham said. "I called 911 and they said they would send some cops right over."

Leeper said troopers were still gathering information on the victims at the various hospitals and no names were available as of 1 p.m.

Times-Union staff photographer Bob Self contributed to this report.Drew Dixon can also be reached at (904) 249-4947, ext. 6313

ROFLMBO, sooo agreed. I'll admit, yes we can all have down moments, but wow, let me quote here for a second, "What if nothing like this has ever happened to her before?" (GAPeachLover); in the "typical" setting, this has pretty much never happened to ANYBODY before, and those that are even remotely close or identical are either locked up in an institution/hospital or are behind bars. O-M-G "just kidding right", sooo true... I love the part about loving Georgia Peaches that don't run over you with their new Land Rovers, hahaha, that's awesome.

I pray for this lady, as well as everybody in need of it, even those who aren't in need... but you don't have a massively destructive ride like this without any consequences, it just doesn't work that way. Also, as "just kidding right" has already pointed out, I pray even more for all the victims this lady put in the hospital and all the damage she caused in her wake!

Just out of wild curiosity, did you also defend the pilots of the 9/11 jets that flew into the twin-towers? They were having personal/religious tragedy as well, and had reason for their actions... and they also went on self-destructive rides... go figure the similarities, aye. I mean, are we also losers with no lives for disagreeing with the terrorists that brought the World Trade Center to the ground? Didn't think so... ;-)

I do love the advice of get a life... I just love that saying all together... since most people whether they want it or not, have a life... it's one of the biggest paradoxes in the book... however, if you're passing out ones that are better, I'd gladly trade up... I'm pretty sure I have my receipt around here somewhere. Q:-)

PS - Oh, also interesting to note, brand spanking new account, very first post made on it... hrm... very interesting indeed.

Especially the firm and juicey ones, the kind that don't run over you with a new Range Rover. Think Black and Yellow. Sorry, if you're offended 'Peaches' I don't care what's happened in your life, nothing condones her actions. I do agree, THERE ARE PEOPLE who need prayers, the victims of 'Mrs. Toads Wild Ride' . I guess the next time I have a tragedy I'll just crank up my ol' 3500 Ram truck and go for a spin, sound good to you?? Go out in a 'Blaze of Dysfunctional Glory' take, say 10 or 15 people with me. Would my personal tragedy condone that?. I just hope her hubby doesn't buy her a 'Hummer"

Until you know the whole story it's hard to say what brought this about in this woman's life. What if nothing like this has ever happened to her before? Usually horrible tragedies drive us to make the worst decisions. My heart and prayers go out to her. As for the people here that feel the need to take this to a sexual point or your own forum to blog about your own jealousy and low self esteem, GET A LIFE!